NDA Syllabus 2024
The NDA syllabus is divided into Maths and General Ability Test (GAT). A total of 120 questions are asked from the Maths section and 150 questions are there in the GAT paper. NDA GAT syllabus aims to test a candidate's basic knowledge of History, GK, Current Affairs of National and International Events, English, Science, and Geography. NDA Maths syllabus assesses a candidate's ability to solve Mathematical problems by applying formulas, theorems, etc. The level of the NDA syllabus is of Class 10, 11, and 12 standards. In the NDA syllabus, the GAT paper holds the maximum weightage. The total marks allotted to the GAT paper are 600. The Maths paper carries 300 marks. UPSC conducts the SSB interview for candidates who obtain the cut-off marks in the written exam. With the help of the NDA syllabus, candidates can know the important topics for the exam and plan their studies accordingly.
NDA Syllabus 2024 Highlights
Candidates can check below the highlights of the NDA syllabus 2024.
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Name of the Exam | NDA |
| Exam Conducting Body | Union Public Service Commission |
| Frequency of NDA Exam | Two times a year (NDA 1 & NDA 2) |
| Selection Process | Written Test Intelligence & Personality Test (SSB) |
| Mode of exam | Unmarried: Female and Male |
| Total Papers in the NDA Exam | 16.5 to 19.5 years |
| Total Marks for the NDA Exam | Army Wing: Passed or appeared in Class 12 For Air Force and Naval Wings: Passed or appearing in Class 12. Candidates must have studied Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics in Class 12 |
| Total Marks for the NDA Exam | In the NDA physical test, the eligibility of candidates is measured as per height, weight and medical standards |
| Negative Marking | Mathematics: -0.83 GAT: -1.33 marks |
| Exam Duration | Mathematics: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
GAT: 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
Mathematics: 2 Hours 30 Minutes GAT: 2 Hours 30 Minutes
Candidates must refer to the NDA syllabus before beginning their NDA preparation. The syllabus will help candidates to know the topics they need to cover for the exam. Some of the important topics that candidates must prepare for the NDA exam are given below:
- • English: Reading Comprehension, Synonyms, Antonyms, Spotting errors, Vocabulary, Idioms and Phrases, etc.
- • NDA Maths Syllabus: Matrices and Determinants, Sets, Venn Diagram, Trigonometry, 2D and 3D Geometry, Differential Calculus, etc.
- • General Knowledge: History, Chemistry, Current Affairs, Art and Culture, Physics, Chemistry, Basic Science, etc.
NDA Syllabus for Paper 1
The NDA syllabus for Paper 1 comprises topics and sub-topics from Maths. This paper carries 120 questions of Class 10, 11, and 12 standards. Candidates get 2.5 marks for each correct answer and there is also a negative marking of 0.83 marks for each incorrect answer.
Overview of NDA Paper 1
| Total Marks | 300 Marks |
| Total No. of Questions | 120 |
| Correct Answer | 2.5 marks |
| Marks deducted for the wrong answer | - 0.83 |
| The total duration of Mathematics Paper | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
The standard of NDA question paper for the Mathematics section is of Class 11 and 12 levels. Candidates can clear their concepts of Maths by referring to the NCERT books of Class 11 and 12. This section tests the candidate's calculative skills. Let us know the topic-wise NDA Mathematics syllabus.
| Topics | Sub-Topics |
|---|---|
| Algebra | Sets, Venn diagrams, De Morgan laws, Cartesian product, relation, equivalence relation. Real numbers, Complex numbers, Modulus, Cube roots, Conversion of a number in a Binary system to Decimals, and vice-versa. Arithmetic, Geometric, and Harmonic progressions. Quadratic equations, Linear inequations, Permutation and Combination, Binomial theorem, and Logarithms. |
| Calculus | Concept of a real-valued function, domain, range, and graph of a function. Composite functions, one-to-one, onto, and inverse functions. The notion of limit, Standard limits, Continuity of functions, algebraic operations on continuous functions. Derivative of function at a point, geometrical and physical interpretation of a derivative-application. Derivatives of sum, product, and quotient of functions, derivative of a function concerning another function, derivative of a composite function. Second-order derivatives. Increasing and decreasing functions. Application of derivatives in problems of maxima and minima |
| Matrices and Determinants | Types of matrices, operations on matrices. Determinant of a matrix, basic properties of determinants. Adjoint and inverse of a square matrix, Applications-Solution of a system of linear equations in two or three unknowns by Cramer’s rule and by Matrix Method. |
| Integral Calculus and Differential Equations | Integration as inverse of differentiation, integration by substitution and by parts, standard integrals involving algebraic expressions, trigonometric, exponential, and hyperbolic functions. Evaluation of definite integrals—determination of areas of plane regions bounded by curves-applications. Definition of order and degree of a differential equation, formation of a differential equation by examples. General and particular solutions of differential equations, solution of first order and first-degree differential equations of various types—examples. Application in problems of growth and decay. |
| Trigonometry | Angles and their measures in degrees and radians. Trigonometric ratios. Trigonometric identities Sum and difference formulae. Multiple and Sub-multiple angles. Inverse trigonometric functions. Applications-Height and distance, properties of triangles. |
| Vector Algebra | Vectors in two and three dimensions, magnitude, and direction of a vector. Unit and null vectors, the addition of vectors, scalar multiplication of a vector, scalar product, or dot product of two vectors. Vector product or cross product of two vectors. Applications—work done by a force and moment of a force and in geometrical problems. |
| Analytical Geometry Of Two and Three-Dimension | Rectangular Cartesian Coordinate system, Distance formula, Equation of a line in various forms. The angle between two lines. Distance of a point from a line. Equation of a circle in standard and in a general form. Standard forms of parabola, ellipse, and hyperbola. Eccentricity and axis of a conic. Point in a three-dimensional space, the distance between two points. Direction Cosines and direction ratios. Equation two points. Direction Cosines and direction ratios. Equation of a plane and a line in various forms. The angle between two lines and angle between two planes. Equation of a sphere. |
| Statistics and Probability | Probability: Random experiment, outcomes, and associated sample space, events, mutually exclusive and exhaustive events, impossible and certain events. Union and Intersection of events. Complementary, elementary, and composite events. Definition of probability—classical and statistical—examples. Elementary theorems on probability-simple problems. Conditional probability, Bayes’ theorem—simple problems. Random variable as function on a sample space. Binomial distribution, examples of random experiments giving rise to Binomial distribution. |
The topic-wise distribution of questions in Maths
The topic-wise distribution of questions in the Maths section is given below.
| Topic | Questions |
|---|---|
| Calculus | 20-25 |
| Quadratic equation | 20-15 |
| Matrices & Determinants | 30 |
| Probability | 10 |
| Trigonometry | 30 |
| Complex number | 10-15 |
NDA Marking Scheme for Maths
Candidates will get 2.5 marks for each correct answer and there is also a negative marking of 0.83 marks deducted for each incorrect answer. Candidates can check below the marking scheme as well as the number of questions.
| Total Marks | 300 Marks |
| Total No. of Questions | 120 |
| Correct Answer | 2.5 marks |
| Marks deducted for the wrong answer | - 0.83 |
| The total duration of Mathematics Paper | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
NDA Syllabus 2024 for Paper 2
NDA syllabus for Paper 2 comprises the General Ability Test (GAT) which includes the topics and sub-topics from General Knowledge (GK), English, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, General Science, and Current Events. A total of 150 questions are asked in this paper, out of which 50 questions are from English and the remaining 100 questions are from General Knowledge. The total marks allotted to this section are 600. The basic overview of the NDA syllabus for Paper 2 is given below.
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Total marks allotted for GAT paper | 3600 marks |
| 600 marks | 150 |
| Total questions in English | 50 |
| Total Questions in GK | 100 |
| Total Marks for English | 200 |
| Total Marks for GK | 400 |
| Marks for Correct Answer | 4 marks in each section |
| Marks for Incorrect Answer | -1.33 marks in each section |
| Total Duration of GAT Paper | 2 Hours 30 Minutes |
NDA English Syllabus
NDA English syllabus comprises the topics that test the basic proficiency in English Language and Comprehension. A total of 50 questions are asked from this section. NDA syllabus for English can be prepared by reading books and newspapers. The difficulty level of this section is easy to moderate. The NDA syllabus for English is given below.
- • Grammar & usage
- • Comprehension & cohesion
- • Spotting of errors
- • Para Jumbling
- • Fill in the blanks
- • Synonyms & Antonyms
- • Vocabulary
- • Cloze Test
- • Idioms & Proverbs
- • Completion of Sentence & Para
- • Sentence Correction & Improvement
NDA Syllabus for GAT
The question paper of the GAT covers subjects that include Physics, Chemistry, Social Studies, General Science, Geography, and Current Events. The NDA syllabus for the GAT is given below.
NDA Physics Syllabus
Around 23-25 questions are asked from Physics. The NDA Physics syllabus is given below.
| Physical Properties and States of Matter | Modes of Transference of Heat |
|---|---|
| Mass | Sound waves and their properties |
| Weight | Simple musical instruments |
| Volume | Rectilinear propagation of Light |
| Density and Specific Gravity | Reflection and refraction |
| Principle of Archimedes | Spherical mirrors and Lenses |
| Pressure Barometer | Human Eye |
| Motion of objects | Natural and Artificial Magnets |
| Velocity and Acceleration | Properties of a Magnet |
| Newton’s Laws of Motion | Earth as a Magnet |
| Force and Momentum | Static and Current Electricity |
| Parallelogram of Forces | Conductors and Non-conductors |
| Stability and Equilibrium of bodies | Ohm’s Law |
| Gravitation | Simple Electrical Circuits |
| Elementary ideas of work | Heating, Lighting, and Magnetic Effects of Current |
| Power and Energy | Measurement of Electrical Power |
| Effects of Heat | Primary and Secondary Cells |
| Measurement of Temperature and Heat | Use of X-rays, General Principles in the working of Simple Pendulum, Simple Pulleys, Siphons, Levers, Balloons, Pumps, Hydrometer, Pressure Cooker, Thermos Flask, Gramophone, Telegraphs, Telephone, Periscope, Telescope, Microscope, Mariner’s Compass; Lightning Conductors, Safety Fuses. |
NDA Chemistry Syllabus
The NDA Chemistry Syllabus contains topics of Class 12 level. The NDA Chemistry syllabus is given below.
| Preparation and Properties of Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Carbon Dioxide, Oxidation and Reduction. Acids, bases, and salts. Carbon— different forms | Physical and Chemical Changes |
| Fertilizers—Natural and Artificial | Elements |
| The material used in the preparation of substances like Soap, Glass, Ink, Paper, Cement, Paints, Safety Matches and Gunpowder | Mixtures and Compounds |
| Elementary ideas about the structure of Atom | Symbols, Formulae, and simple Chemical Equation |
| Atomic Equivalent and Molecular Weights | Law of Chemical Combination (excluding problems) |
| Valency | Properties of Air and Water |
The NDA syllabus for General Science includes topics that assess the basic knowledge of the candidate on science and environment. The NDA General Science syllabus is given below.
| Common Epidemics, their causes, and prevention | Difference between the living and non-living |
| Food-Source of Energy for man | Food-Source of Energy for man |
| Constituents of food | Growth and Reproduction in Plants and Animals |
| Balanced Diet | Elementary knowledge of the Human Body and its important organs |
NDA History Syllabus
NDA History syllabus contains topics on Culture and Civilization, the Freedom Movement in India, American Independence, the French Revolution, etc. Check the list of topics included in the UPSC NDA syllabus for History below.
|
Forces shaping the modern world; Renaissance |
A broad survey of Indian History, with emphasis on Culture and Civilisation |
|
Exploration and Discovery; War of American Independence, French Revolution, Industrial Revolution, and Russian Revolution |
Freedom Movement in India |
|
Impact of Science and Technology on Society |
Elementary Study of Indian Constitution and Administration |
|
Concept of One World |
Elementary knowledge of Five Year Plans of India |
|
United Nations, Panchsheel, Democracy, Socialism and Communism |
Panchayati Raj |
|
Role of India in the Present World |
Co-operatives and Community Development |
|
A broad survey of Indian History, with emphasis on Culture and Civilisation |
Bhoodan, Sarvodaya, National Integration and Welfare State |
|
Basic Teachings of Mahatma Gandhi |
- |
NDA Geography Syllabus
NDA Geography Syllabus assesses the candidate’s knowledge about earth and its resources and environment.
|
The Earth, its shape and size |
Ocean Currents and Tides Atmosphere and its composition |
|
Latitudes and Longitudes |
Temperature and Atmospheric Pressure, Planetary Winds, Cyclones and Anticyclones; Humidity; Condensation and Precipitation |
|
Concept of time |
Types of Climate |
|
International Date Line |
Major Natural Regions of the World |
|
Movements of Earth and their effects |
Regional Geography of India—Climate, Natural vegetation. Mineral and Power resources; location and distribution of agricultural and Industrial activities |
|
Origin of Earth. Rocks and their classification |
Important Sea ports and main sea, land, and air routes of India |
|
Weathering—Mechanical and Chemical, Earthquakes and Volcanoes |
Main items of Imports and Exports of India |
UPSC NDA Current Affairs Syllabus
NDA Current Affairs syllabus includes topics based on the latest current affairs events of India as well as the world.